Steppes: characteristics and types. Independent application of knowledge

Lesson objectives:

To form an idea of the natural zone of the steppes, to introduce the geographical location of the zone, climatic conditions, flora and fauna.

Lesson objectives:

To form an idea of the natural zone of the steppes, to introduce the geographical location of the zone, climatic conditions, flora and fauna.
Develop the ability to work with a map, teach children to observe, reason, draw conclusions, evaluate their activities in the lesson and the activities of classmates.
Instill respect for nature.

Equipment: PC, MIMIO, projector, map of natural areas.

Students have: a sheet for recording knowledge in the lesson, a lesson map, a “Forest Zone” test, cards for self-assessment: yellow tulip - 3, iris - 4, red tulip - 5 ( Annex 1)

During the classes

I. Organizational moment. Motivation of students.

– Today we will continue our journey through natural areas, where you will meet amazing flora and fauna, learn about the climate and occupations of the population, about nature conservation,

But first, let's review the material we covered.

II. Checking homework. Updating knowledge.

1) Students complete the “Forest Zone” test

Examination. One student names his answer options, opening the MIMIO “curtains” on the board for the intended answer, the students see the correct answer. The rest of the students self-check their work, marking errors in a different color.

After checking, a slide appears on the board with the criteria for evaluating the work. Students paste into the self-assessment sheet a picture corresponding to their grade in the “test” column (yellow tulip - 3, iris - 4, red tulip - 5)

(Self-assessment: 5-7 correct answers – “3”, 8-9 correct answers – “4”, 10 correct answers – “5”.)

III. Lesson topic message. Setting a goal.

Students solve a crossword puzzle on the topic “Forest zone” (Front work)

After solving the crossword puzzle, the children will learn the topic of the lesson.

– The topic of our lesson is “Steppe Zone”.

We have already become acquainted with several natural areas. (Students name the studied natural areas and show them on the map).

– We studied all natural areas according to a specific plan. Let us remind each other of the plan for studying the natural area.

Students recall the plan for studying the natural area and compare it with the standard:

Geographical location of the zone
Climatic conditions (combination of heat and moisture)
Vegetable world
Animal world
Impact of human activities on natural areas

– Thus, we can formulate the purpose of the lesson. (Children formulate a goal).

– In the steppe zone you will meet amazing flora and fauna, learn about the climate, nature conservation,

– Since you and I are going on a trip, we need to outline a route. (Drawing up a route sheet) ( Appendix 2)

Fizminutka

IV. Working on a new topic.
View the presentation “Steppe at different times of the year”

Let's determine the position of the steppe zone on the map (map of natural zones). Consider a map of natural zones in Russia. What color is the steppe zone?

Compare the area of the forest zone and the steppe zone. Draw a conclusion.)

Students are given a table to fill out (
Appendix 4	Climatic conditions
Average temperature in summer	-20-30
+22-24, July to +40	Average temperature in winter Precipitation in summer
Few in number,	Torrential nature of rains
Precipitation in winter
Snow cover is low	Vegetable world
Trees	Vegetable world
No, not enough moisture	Shrubs
Herbaceous plants	Yes How plants adapted to conditions in the steppe 1) bulbs, tubers 2) Narrow leaves
3) Long roots
4) fleshy juicy stems and leaves	Why are the soils of the steppes very fertile?

Plant name
Basic information	Why are the soils of the steppes very fertile?

Animal world

Animal name

Steppe and man

4. Teacher's story

Steppes are large treeless expanses of grassy plains. Summer in the steppes is longer than in the forest zone. The average temperature in summer is 22-24 degrees; in July it can rise to 40 degrees above zero. Summer is dry and sunny, rains are rare and have a torrential character. Water flows into lowlands without having time to be absorbed into the soil and quickly evaporates. There is not enough moisture in the soil, so trees do not grow in the steppes. In summer, dry winds often blow. Dry wind is a dry, hot wind coming from the desert. This wind brings a lot of trouble.

Winter in the steppe is shorter and warmer than in the forest zone. But it is quite cold, with frosts down to 20-30 degrees. The snow cover is small.

As already mentioned, due to lack of moisture, trees do not grow in the steppes, but there are a lot of grasses here. Grasses have adapted well to drought. Some plants have leaves with a waxy coating, others have narrow leaves that evaporate little moisture, and others have fleshy and juicy stems and leaves with a reserve of moisture.

At this time, bulbous plants grow. In a month, these flowers have time to develop, bloom, bloom, produce seeds and fade. They have enough for this month; a supply of nutrients and moisture accumulates in the bulbs. It’s getting hotter and you won’t see the tulips and irises of the steppe anymore. They are being replaced by cereal plants.

These plants have narrow leaves that evaporate moisture sparingly. The roots help the plant to stand when dry winds blow.

By the end of summer - beginning of autumn, the steppe almost completely burns out.

The steppes have fertile soils, so they are plowed for crops.

Grasshopper
filly
Crickets
Butterflies
Bees, bumblebees
Steppenwolf
Saiga
Gopher
Brown hare
Bustard
steppe eagle
Steppe lark
Gray partridge

6. Steppe and man. Working with the textbook. P. 120.

Conversation about what you read. Filling out the table.

V. Application of knowledge.

Peer review. Rating.

Reflection.

What tasks did you especially like?

– What interesting things did you learn in the lesson?

Summing up the results of the self-assessment sheet.

Plan

1. Location
2. Climate
3. Soil
4 Flora
5. Animal world
6. Power circuits
7. Environmental issues

8.Reserves

1. Location

The steppe zone on the map is highlighted in yellow

Steppe zone located south of the forest zone. The steppe zone is much smaller than the forest zone. Most of the steppe zone is located on the East European Plain, and it is also found in Western and Eastern Siberia. The surface relief is smooth. The steppe zone is located in the temperate climate zone.

**2. K lim at**

To the south of the forest zone there is even more heat, but less precipitation falls. Summer is long and dry. In July + 22 - + 25 degrees, the heat can reach up to 40 degrees. The weather is dry and sunny. They often blow dry hot winds - hot winds . Sometimes hot winds turn into dust storms.

Winter is short and warm, but there are cold temperatures down to -20 -30 degrees.

In spring, the steppe comes to life and is covered with a carpet of tulips and irises. Spring is short with a lot of moisture in the soil. The rains are torrential in nature. The rain passes quickly, and most of the water, not having time to saturate the soil, flows in streams into the lowlands and evaporates.

3. Soil

Soils in the steppe fertile, covered with black soil. Grasses grow in the steppe; every year their dying stems and leaves increase the fertile layer.

4. Flora

The lack of moisture does not create conditions for tree growth.

Grow tulips, irises, feather grass, fescue, timothy grass, fine-leaved peony .

The shape of the leaves is narrow so that less moisture evaporates; the color is light, because prevents the sheet from getting too hot. Light colors reflect the sun's rays better.

Root system: bulb, bunch, rhizome.
Nutrients are stored in the bulb. A fibrous root system better collects and retains moisture from the surface of the earth. Tall plants have a root system that goes deep into the soil.

All steppe plants are herbaceous and grow on fertile soil. Plants adapt to life in the steppe in different ways: for example, in tulips, which have beautiful flowers, after flowering the leaves and stems die off, and the bulb remains in the ground with a supply of nutrients until next spring. Irises and meadowsweet have also adapted. Meadowsweet has tuberous thickenings on its roots; reserve nutrients are deposited there; they can even be eaten. Feather grass and fescue have adapted in a completely different way. They grow in the form of a large dense bush. Below, near the ground, numerous shoots are pressed tightly against each other. The leaves of feather grass and fescue are narrow so that less moisture evaporates; the roots go deep into the ground.

5. Animal world

There are no trees in the steppes, but there is grass cover. Therefore, many insects live in the grass: grasshopper, grasshopper, bumblebee, and others. If there are insects, it means there are a lot of birds here: steppe lark, bustard, gray partridge, demoiselle crane. Steppe birds make nests right on the ground. Animals of the steppe are small, their life is connected with the ground in which they make holes. Gophers, hamsters, and field mice live in the steppe. And, of course, there are predators in the steppe: the steppe eagle, the steppe ferret, the steppe viper. The color of steppe animals often matches the color of the vegetation.

steppe eagle - predatory bird. It nests on the ground. The fingers are weak, the claws are short, it feeds on small animals (rodents, birds). Wingspan up to two meters.

Kestrel - bird of prey.

Steppe lark “We’ve been hearing his song since early spring. Only the male sings. They feed on insects and carrion.

Bustard - the largest bird, weighing from 16 to 21 kg. Runs well and flies well. It rises into the air with difficulty from a running start. It flies against the wind, low, gradually gaining altitude. There are no sweat glands, it is difficult in the heat, there is no fatty lubrication.

Gray partridge - looks like a small chicken, also clucks and rakes the ground with its paws. Destroys many harmful insects. The meat is very tender and tasty.

Gophers - They don’t go far from their holes. Rising on their hind legs, they look around all the time, and noticing a person or animal, they hide in a hole with a squeak. In dry years, with the onset of lack of food, they hibernate. They can spend up to 9 months sleeping.

Steppe vipers - in weeds and ditches. They feed on rodents and insects.

6. Power circuits

Plants—> Filly—> Partridge—> Steppe Eagles
—> Foxes
—> Wolves

Plants—> Jerboa—> Steppe Eagle

7. Environmental issues

Many plants and animals of the steppe zone are in danger of extinction. The main reason is plowing steppe lands . People turned the steppes into fields. Another reason: cattle graze in unplowed areas of the steppes; excessive grazing leads to soil destruction. The following animals are included in the Red Book: steppe eagle, crane, bustard, grasshopper, steppe rack. Plants: thin-leaved peony.

There is another problem - this poaching . To preserve the nature of the steppes, it is necessary to limit its plowing, limit grazing, fight poaching, and create nature reserves.

How to solve environmental problems?

Limit plowing of steppes:
Limit livestock grazing;
Fight poaching;
Create nature reserves;

Before plowing the fields, collect bustard eggs and raise them in special incubators. And then release him onto the field.

8. Reserves

Central Chernozem Reserve named after V.V. Alekhine - in the strip of northern steppe of the Kursk and Belgorod regions. Founded in 1935 and named after the famous geobotanist, professor at Moscow University. Area over 4 thousand hectares. The areas of greatest interest are the Streletskaya, Kozatskaya and Yamskaya steppes. There are 31 species of mammals recorded in the reserve, but if we exclude some visiting animals (elk, roe deer, wolf, etc.) and acclimatized ones (raccoon dog), then about 25 native species remain. The typical inhabitant of the virgin steppe, the marmot-baibak, was exterminated in the last century. Traces of his stay are still preserved in the steppes in the form of small mounds (surochin), overgrown with steppe vegetation. In addition, speckled ground squirrels, mole rats and a number of other species of fauna can be found here.

You might be interested

The steppe zone is located south of the forest zone. These are endless flat spaces covered with a grassy carpet. Only occasionally in the steppe can you find solitary trees or small groups of trees growing near water bodies. This natural area is found on all continents.

Climate Features

The forest zone gradually, through the forest-steppe, turns into a treeless natural zone - the steppe. It looks like a huge field on which fragrant herbs grow.

The steppe zone is located in the temperate climate zone. This means that sunny, dry weather reigns here. This area is characterized by dry winds - hot, dry winds that can turn into strong dust storms.

Summer in the steppe is long, dry, with little precipitation. The average temperature is 20-22 degrees Celsius, but can sometimes rise to 40 degrees. Winter is short and relatively warm. Only occasionally does the air temperature drop to -40 degrees.

In spring, the steppe seems to wake up: life-giving showers moisten the soil, and it is covered with a carpet of bright steppe flowers. However, due to sunny weather, rainwater does not have time to penetrate deep into the ground. It flows into the lowlands and quickly evaporates.

TOP 4 articleswho are reading along with this

Rice. 1. Steppe in spring.

The main wealth of the steppe zone is fertile lands, which are called chernozem. When grasses die, they form a top nutrient layer - humus, which has unique nutritional properties.

Vegetable world

Due to the low amount of moisture, very few trees grow in the steppes. The main vegetation in this natural area is all kinds of grasses and cereals.

Rice. 2. Steppe plants.

The following characteristics are characteristic of steppe plants:

narrow leaves - to evaporate a small amount of moisture;
light foliage color - better reflects the sun's rays;
numerous small roots - better absorb and retain valuable moisture.

Peonies, irises, tulips, feather grass, fescue and many medicinal plants grow in the steppe.

Animal world

The prevailing vegetation cover has created ideal conditions for the life of insects, of which an incredible number live here. The steppes are inhabited by grasshoppers, grasshoppers, bumblebees, bees and many others.

Since there are many insects in the steppe, this means that many birds live here: partridges, steppe larks, bustards. They build their nests right on the ground.

Steppe animals are most adapted to life in the field: they are all small in size, with a light color that blends in with the vegetation. The steppes are home to many rodents and reptiles.

Gophers are typical inhabitants of the steppes. They spend a lot of time standing on their hind legs and looking around. At the slightest danger, they hide in their burrows with an alarming squeak. In unfavorable years, with severe drought and lack of food, they hibernate, which can last 9 months.

Rice. 3. Gophers.

Environmental problems of the steppes

The main problem of the steppe zone is its plowing for agricultural needs. Fertile soils and the absence of trees were a good reason why people began to plow up steppe lands and grow crops on them.

In addition, livestock graze on unplowed steppe areas, and this inevitably leads to the destruction of the unique soil.

As a result of human activity, many steppe animals and plants are under threat of complete extinction.

What have we learned?

While studying the report on the 4th grade program of the surrounding world, we learned what the steppe zone is like. We found out what climate is typical for this natural zone, what plants and animals live in the vast expanses of the steppe, and also what is the main environmental problem of steppes around the world.

Test on the topic

Evaluation of the report

Average rating: 4.8. Total ratings received: 411.

The steppes occupy a sixth of Russia's territory. This is an endless sea of \u200b\u200bherbs. The steppe zone is most actively developed by humans for agricultural work due to its extremely fertile soils. In this lesson we will get acquainted with the amazing diversity of the flora of the steppe, learn about the animals and birds that live here.

We already know that delineating natural zones on a map differs from the same task on the ground (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Map of natural zones of Russia ()

To the south of the forest zone there is a steppe zone, and the transition zone up to several kilometers wide is called forest-steppe (Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. Forest-steppe ()

There is more heat and less rainfall here than in the forest area, so it is more difficult for trees to grow. There are fewer of them, and closer to the steppe they completely disappear.

Steppes are treeless spaces covered with herbaceous vegetation (Fig. 3).

A distinctive feature of the steppes is extremely fertile soils - chernozems (Fig. 4).

Rice. 4. Chernozem ()

For comparison: in the forest the humus layer is 15 cm, and in the steppe - more than 50 cm.

The climate of the steppe is arid, with especially little rainfall in summer. Most plants in the steppe are drought-resistant: they tolerate a lack of moisture well.

Rice. 5. Steppe in dry times ()

In Russia, the steppes occupy very large areas - the steppes account for about one sixth of the entire territory of the country.

The steppes are especially beautiful in the spring, when tulips, irises, and poppies bloom - early flowering plants that rush to use spring moisture to store nutrients in the bulbs and rhizomes for the whole year (Fig. 6-8).

On 1 km² of the northern steppe you can find up to 80 species of grass, which is why the steppe is called the kingdom of herbs. Sage, dream grass, adonis, forget-me-not, peony, rouge, etc. grow here (Fig. 9-14).

Blush got its name because the rhizome of this plant was used to blush cheeks in the old days.

Many steppe plants have hairs, thorns, prickles, or secrete essential oils (therefore steppe plants have a strong and persistent odor), which protect them from excessive evaporation (Fig. 15-17).

Shrubs also grow in the northern steppe: sloe, almond, steppe cherry (Fig. 18-20).

In the southern steppe, mainly cereals grow: fescue and feather grass (Fig. 21-22).

The steppe looks like a silver sea during the flowering of feather grass (Fig. 23).

Rice. 23. Flowering feather grass ()

Steppe feather grass has long roots that help it receive moisture, and very narrow, tube-shaped leaves that prevent the plant from evaporating too much moisture (Fig. 24).

Rice. 24. Steppe feather grass ()

At the end of September in the southern steppe you can see an unusual phenomenon - balls that roll across the steppe, driven by the wind. This tumbleweed plant, the stem of which has already dried out by this time and has become detached from the rhizome, spreads its seeds throughout the steppe (Fig. 2).

Rice. 25. Tumbleweed ()

Here there is a long, dry summer, and dry winds often blow - hot, drying winds (Fig. 26). There are dust storms (Fig. 27). Rains here are a rare occurrence, they are torrential and short-lived - the ground does not have time to become saturated with moisture, the water flows into the lowlands and evaporates (Fig. 28).

The herbs of the steppe are home to many insects: mantises, grasshoppers, bees. The steppe grasshopper is the largest species of grasshopper; it lives in the steppe and preys on grasshoppers of other species (Fig. 29-31).

Such a number of insects and cereal plants attracts birds (Fig. 32).

Rice. 32. Birds in the steppe ()

The demoiselle crane has really beautiful plumage (Fig. 33).

Rice. 33. Demoiselle crane ()

These birds return to the same nesting sites year after year. The female raises two cranes until adulthood (Fig. 3).

Rice. 34. Demoiselle crane chicks ()

These are shy and cautious birds. Unfortunately, there are about a thousand of them left all over the world.

The gray partridge (Fig. 35) and bustard (Fig. 36) are even rarer birds.

The steppe eagle is a legendary hunter. This is a very large bird (the wingspan reaches two meters). It hovers over the steppe for a long time, looking for prey, and then suddenly attacks (Fig. 37).

Rice. 37. Steppe eagle ()

The steppe is an open area. Therefore, small animals hide from predators in holes. The steppe is inhabited by mice, hamsters and gophers (Fig. 38-40).

Gophers live in colonies, they come out of their holes to the surface all together to feed, but one or two gophers remain to inspect the surroundings, they stand in a “column” and, if they notice danger, they emit a loud whistle - this is a signal for everyone to take refuge in the holes (Fig. . 1).

The gopher eats food for three months of the year and spends nine months in hibernation. This animal is also notable for the fact that it does not drink water at all: it receives the moisture it needs from food.

The steppe is the most densely populated natural zone in Russia: there are many cities, towns and villages. The reason for this is the fertile lands, which have long been plowed up for agricultural activities (Fig. 42-44).

The steppes are the most natural zone transformed by man. The degree of plowing on the East European Plain reaches 70-80%, in Siberia it is less. This is a zone of continuous agricultural development with huge tracts of fields and large villages.

The plowing of the steppes entailed a change in the number and species composition of the fauna of this natural zone, as well as the development of water and wind erosion.

To protect the natural wealth of the steppe zone, nature reserves were created. In one of them live saigas - unique nomadic animals, which, over the course of a long evolution, have well adapted to the difficult living conditions in the dry steppes and semi-deserts of Eurasia (Fig. 45).

This species is more than 15 thousand years old. Unfortunately, their existence, despite the efforts of scientists, is still under threat. Human development of the steppes and uncontrolled hunting of saigas (valuable meat, skin and horns) have almost completely exterminated this species.

In the spring, the female gives birth to one calf, which in the first days of its life is helpless and does not even know how to stand on its feet (Fig. 46).

Rice. 46. Female saiga with cubs ()

A few weeks later, when the cub grows up and runs confidently, the mother brings him to a kind of kindergarten, where several experienced females look after the young saigas and teach them how to survive in the steppe.

Adult saigas run in herds, raising a thick cloud of dust in the steppe (Fig. 47).

Rice. 47. Herd of saigas ()

Nature took care of the animals - saigas have a long nose so that the dust has time to settle and the cold air in winter is warmed before entering the lungs (Fig. 48).

Rice. 48. Saiga nose ()

In the next lesson we will talk about the desert zone, learn about the climate features of this zone, the flora and fauna of the Russian deserts.

Bibliography

Vakhrushev A.A., Danilov D.D. The world around us 3. - M.: Ballas.
Dmitrieva N.Ya., Kazakov A.N. The world around us 3. - M.: Publishing House "Fedorov".
Pleshakov A.A. The world around us 3. - M.: Enlightenment.

Atlas-yakutia.ru ().
Zoogeo365.ru ().
3planet.ru ().

Homework

Make a short test (6 questions with three answer options) on the topic “Steppes of Russia.”
Prepare a short report about one of the steppe birds. Draw an illustration.
* Using the knowledge gained in the lesson, write the story “The Endless Sea of the Steppe.”